Reflector or bulb shifting mechanism for head lamps



Nov. 17, 1936. c. A. MICHEL ET AL 2,061,000

REFLECTOR OR BULB SHIFTING MECHANISM FOR HEAD LAMPS Filed Oct. 12, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet l :2 l6 u I; 22 4 Li 5 56 I2 24 z z 40 s y I M fag g 5 3g gmwww (/MmcedYZ/icfid 5:022 72 (brave/Z 1935- c. A. MICHEL ET AL 2,061,000

REFLECTOR OR BULB SHIFTING MECHANISM FOR HEAD LAMPS Filed Oct. 12, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 1936- c A. MICHEL ET AL REFLECTOR OR BULB SHIFTING MECHANISM FOR HEAD LAMPS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 12, 1934 f/m em'e fil. 7/170Av/Ai .5201? K (aim/ell Z? Nov. 17, 1936. c. A. MICHEL ET AL 2,061,000 1 REFLECTOR OR BULB SHIFTING MECHANISM FOR HEAD LAMPS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 12, 1934 50022 it. Canard! N v- 17, 936- c. A. MICHEL ET AL REFLECTOR OR BULB SHIFTING MECHANISM FOR HEAD LAMPS Filed Oct. 12, 1934 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 f 0% P W e w W Mm m 3%}. a? 6 $5 lit Patented-i Nov. l7. 193$ N TIE @TATEg REFELEG'EQR @R BULB STING rmc= NHSMFOR, HEAD LAMPS Delaware Application @ctober 12, 1934, Serial No. 748,042

a Claims.

cially adapted to make step by step adjustment of the reflector or'bulb. In the preferred form of the'invention a spring is employed to yieldingly.

urge the bulb or reflector in one direction and an eccentric is provided for urging it in the other direction, the eccentric preferably being operated step by step by means of a ratchet actuated by an electromagnet or, if preferred, by engine suction.

Another feature of our invention consists in combining with the tilting mechanism an adjustment to enable the initial setting of the bulb or reflector to be varied as may be desired.

' The design is characterized by simplicity and economy of parts so that it is well adapted for large scale production. I

Figure l is a section through a portion of an automobile headlamp showing our bulb tilting mechanism with parts broken away. I

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the tilting mechanism of Figure 1 looking at the rear of the reflector.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figures 4 and 5 are details, the first showing the combined eccentric and ratchet wheel, and the,

second showing the ratchet.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevation of a modified form of tilting mechanism.

Figure 7 is a section on line 7-1 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a view of the elevation of the combined eccentric and ratchet wheel looking from the side bearing the eccentric.

Figure 9 is a view corresponding to Figure 1 showing a iurther modification in which the position of the entire tilting mechanism, bulb an socket may be adjusted.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary rear view of the mechanism of Figure 9.

Figure ll is a fragmentary side elevation with parts in section showing suction operated mechanism for adjusting the position of the bulb, this being a modification of the construction shown in Figure 9.

Figure 12 is a rear view of the construction of Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a perspective view of the bracket carrying the bulb tilting mechanism.

Figure 14 is a view corresponding to Figure 1 showing a further modification in which the refiector is tilted along with the bulb and socket.

Figure 15 is a section on lines l5l5 of Figure 1%.

' Iii-l9v of Figure 18.

Figure 16 is a fragmentary section on line ae is of Figure 14.

, Figure 17 is a fragmentary rear view oi a por tion of the reflector of Figure 14.

Figure 18 is a view corresponding tor Figure l 5 showing the application of the invention to an other form of tilting reflector.

Figure 19 is a fragmentary section on line Figure 20 is a. view taken on line til-dd oi to Figure 18.

In the form shown in Figures 1 to 5 the reiiec tor I0 is fixed, while the socket carrying the bulb is pivoted thereto. To the rear of the reflector is secured stamping 12 which is apertured to re it? ceive the lamp socket I4. The lamp socket is provided with outwardly bent lugs it received in sockets in the stamping I! or in the reflector if preferred, thereby providing a'pivotal mounting. A helical spring I8 arranged in the form of a ring is engaged behind a lug 20 pressed out of the top of the socket l4 and passes forwardly of lugs 22 likewise pressed out of the socket and the bottom of spring engages under hook 24 pressed out of stamping l2. Spring I8 is normally under ten 25 sion and as a consequence tends to contract and wedge between lugs 22 and the. back of stamping l2 therebydrawing the socket rearwardlyso lugs I6 are yieldingly held in their sockets. purpose of lug 20 is to hold the spring 18 at a distance from the fulcrum so that when the bulb is tilted upwardly the spring is put under additional tension.

The rear end of stamping I2 is in the form of a U, and provides support for fixed pivot 26. Upon a reduced portion of pivot 26 is journaled the combined ratchet wheel and eccentric 28. The pe riphery of the member 28 is in the form of an eccentric engaging the rear end oi the soclsct so that by rotating the eccentric the socket is tilted up or down. The rearward face of the member 28 is provided with an annular series of rat teeth 30 adapted to be engaged by tooth 32 f r on ratchet lever 34 journaledon pin 26 alo the member 28. Coil spring 36 on pin 23 ingly urges the lever into engagement wi' member 28. The opposite end of ratchet 1cm. has a pin and slot connection with the armature 40 of electromagnet 42 preferably clamped to the bottom of the U-shaped portion of the stamp ing H.

To prevent return movement of the eccentric we may provide a spring detent such as indicated at 46 which may bemounted at one end of the pivot 26 as best shown in Figure 2. 5."

One end of the coil of the eleetromagnet 42 is suitably grounded while the other end is provided with an insulated lead, best shown in Figure 1, which may be connected by suitable means to a switch within reach of the operator of the car. This switch should be of such design so that upon giving it one unit of movement the circuit through the electromagnet is momentarily closed, pulling down armature 40, swinging ratchet lever 84 and rotating the combined ratchet wheel and eccentric 28 through one or more notches, depending on the design of the ratchet lever. This will result in tilting the rear end of the lamp socket I4 either up or down, depending upon the position of the eccentric. Spring I8 at all times acts to hold the socket against the eccentric. By operating the switch a number of times the socket may be tilted up or down to the desired extent within the range of movement made possible by the design of the eccentric. It will be apparent that this form of the invention, as with all the others, the wiring of the tilting mechanism may be such that the bulbs in the two headlamps may move up and down together upon manipulation of the switch, or if desired separate switches could be provided for each headlamp. If a single switch is preferred, it is also possible to arrange the wiring and the synchronizing of the tilting mechanism so that as one bulb is tilted up the other is tilted down, or if preferred they may be arranged less than 180 out of phase. All of this is a matter of choice in securing such combinations of beam patterns as may be desired.

We have also illustrated in Figure 1 a conventional two filament bulb. Such bulbs are usually so wired as to permit independent energization of the filaments to obtain various beam combinations. Obviously, the switch or switches employed for determining combination of filaments used may be combined with the switch for controlling the energization of the magnets to get such combinations of filament positioning as may be desired. However, it is to be expected that the tilting mechanism herein disclosed will find its greatest use with bulbs containing but a single filament.

In Figures 6,to 8 we have shown a slight modiflcation in that there is mounted on the pivot 25' a socket actuator 50 having a forked upper end provided with lugs 52 engaging in apertures 54 provided at opposite sides of the socket I4. The opposite end of actuator 50 is apertured and provided with inwardly projecting lugs I58 adapted to ride on the periphery of eccentric 58 formed on ratchet wheel 60. Obviously, when the ratchet wheel is rotated the eccentric moves the bulb up and down through actuator 50. The remaining details of the construction are the same as previously described.

In Figures 9 and 10 we have shown a further development of the invention in which provision is made for initial adjustment of the setting of the bulb. From such setting the solenoid mechanism provides as before for the step by step adjustments normally made use of in the operation of the vehicle. Here the stamping 62 is of somewhat difierent shape from the corresponding part I2 of the form shown in Figure 1, being provided with outwardly extending arms equipped with pivots 64 on which is swung stamping 08 carrying electromagnet 88 having its plunger I0 pivoted to ratchet I2 which actuates eccentric I4 in the manner previously described to cause the bulb socket to pivot about its fulcrum (n t shown) in the stamping 62, this fulcrum being the same as that shown in Figures 1 and 3. The upward movement of the rear end of the bulb socket is, as before, resisted by spring I8. It will be understood that the pivots I54 and the fulcrum of the bulb socket are in alignment so that the stamping 68 and the parts carried by it, together with the lamp socket, which bears on eccentric 14, may pivot together about this common axis. The construction as so far described, except for the pivotal mounting of the stamping 66, is substantially the same as previously described. To the bottom of the stamping 86 is secured a lug which is connected by universal joint to a rod 82 threaded in bracket 84 secured to the lamp housing. The housing is provided with an aperture at 86 to permit access to the end of the rod 82 which is slotted to permit actuation by a screw driver. Coil spring encircles rod 82, bearing at one end against a suitable seat resting on bracket 84 and at the other end bearing against collar 92 secured on the lug 80. The spring 00 applies tension to the rod 82 and so tends to lock it in adjusted position.

It will be apparent that by rotating rod 82 the stamping 88 and with it the bulb tilting mechanism and the socket may be tilted up or down about a horizontal axis. In any position to which these parts may be adjusted by manipulation of rod 82 the solenoid 88 is eflective to provide the full range of adjustment of position of the bulb made possible by the eccentric I4.

In Figures 11 to 13 we have shown a further modification in that the ratchet 84 is operated by means of plunger 96 secured to diaphragm 88 urged in one direction by spring I00 and in the other direction by engine vacuum applied through tube I02 leading to the manifold or to any other of the parts of the engine in which vacuum exists or through which fiuid flows so as to exert an aspirating action on the pipe I02 to cause movement of the diaphragm. The construction is otherwise substantially the same as previously described.

While we have not illustrated the valve mechanism for controlling application of suction to the diaphragm 98, it is obvious that this may be done in various ways, either by connecting the suction lines to suitable valves on the dash orby using remote control of the suction, operated either electrically or mechanically.

The bulb tilting mechanisms here described may be applied to tilt the reflector with its bulb instead of the bulb alone, and in Figures 14 to 17 we have shown such an arrangement. The reflector I I0 is equipped with the usual bulb mounted in socket II2 secured to the reflector in any desired manner. In this form of the invention as well as in the others the bulb may contain a single filament or independently energizable filaments as in conventional headlamps. To the opposite sides of the reflector H0 is secured a strap II4 carrying trunnlons IIG. These trunnions are received in sockets provided in stampings II8 fastened in any suitable manner to the headlamp housing. On the strap II 4 is mounted solenoid I20 provided with armature I22 operating the ratchet I24 which, through a suitable ratchet wheel, not shown, actuates eccentric. I28 engaging adjustable abutment I30 pivoted at I32 to bracket I34 rigidly secured to the lamp housing. An adjusting rod I36 has one end received in socket in member I30 and the other end threaded in member I84. The exposed slotted end of rod I36 is accessible through opening I38 in the headvention.

iii

the adjustable abutment I30.

It will be apparent that by adjusting the rod H36 the abutment: I30is swung about its pivot and through its engagement with eccentric I28 swings the assembly consisting of the adjusting mechanism, strap II4 and reflector about the axis of trunnions H6, thereby tilting the reflector upwardly or downwardly as desired. In any position of adjustment of rod I36 the eccentric I26 may be actuated by the .elctromagnet I20 to effect the desired adjustment of the "reflector. It will be obvious, of course, that instead of the electromagnet the suction operated ratchet ac'tuatorof Figure 11 may be employed. 1

' In the formshown in Figures 18 to 20, I indicates the reflector which is suported on the inturned flange I06.o f .the lamp housing I48 by means of supporting screws I50 having their heads countersunk in the flange, and provided with compression springs I52 encircling their shanks and urging the reflector away from the flange, as described in pending'application S. N. X23333, filed Mayv4, 1934, Mead and Michel. At

least two "such adjusting screws are: provided,

preferably located at opposite ends of horizontal diameter. In addition, a third adjusting screw may be provided at the top of the lamp. By rotating these screws the reflector may be tilted or. moved inwardly or outwardly as desired. The arrangement also permits rocking of the reflector about the seat of the head of the screwas a pivot. The screws thus provide a pivotal mounting for the reflector.

To the bottom of the reflector is secured a stamping I53 which strengthens the reflector flange at this point, and provides a seat for spring 350, hearing at its other end against a suitable seat in the housing flange I46. Against the other side of the stamping I53 bears an eccentric I56 having its upper surface provided with ratchet teeth as in the previous form of the in- Eccentric I56 has an axial extension 558 formed at its outer end with flat sides to per- 'znit manipulation. Extension I58'is received in an aperture in a U-stamping I60 supported by reshaped bracket I62, secured to the lamp hous ing. Stud I64 threaded in the upper arm of the iii-shaped stamping I60 has its lower end pilotedv in eccentric I56 and serves as a journal for the ratchet I66. As in the previous forms of the invention, ratchet I66 is connected to armature 95 i causing the bottom of the reflector to follow the eccentric. The advantage of having the extension I58 on the eccentric projecting through the hole in the lamp housing is that this makes it possible to initially adjust the two headlamps so that they will .tilt up and down in unison when the electromagnets are actuated from the switch at the driver's seat. Of course, it desired, the

lamps may be adjusted so that they move the reflectors out of step with each other.

In the last described form of the invention we have shown at I16 a contact carrier for bulb "8 which may be of the type having a prefocused base. However, any suitable bulb mounting may be employed.

We claim:

1. In a headlamp a light source, means for mounting the light source for adjustment within the headlamp, means for shifting the position of the light source comprising a cam, spring means for resiliently holding the light source mounting in engagement with the cam, step by step means for actuating the cam, a pivotal mounting for said light source shifting means, and means for adjusting the position of said last-named mounting comprising an adjustable thrust member having one end engaging the mounting and the other end accessible for manipulation from outside of the headlamp. v

2. In a headlampa light source, means for mounting the light source for pivotal movement within the headlamp, means for shifting the position of said light source, a pivoted support for said last-named means, said support being in addition to the pivotal mounting for the light source and having its pivotal axis coincident with the axis of pivotal movement of the light source, and meansfor adjusting the position of said pivoted support.

3. In an adjusting mechanism for headlamps and the like the combination of a support, a bracket mounted thereon having a U-shaped portion, a shaft extending between the legs of the U, an eccentric on the shaft, a ratchet wheel secured to the eccentric, a lever mounted on the shaft having a pawl in engagement with the reflector therein, a lamp socket pivoted in the reflector, a lamp in the socket, a support secured to the reflector, a shaft on the support, an eccentric on the shaft engaging the socket to tilt the same, a ratchet wheel secured to the eccentric, a lever mounted on the shaft having a pawl in engagement with the ratchet wheel, a torsion spring on the shaft engaging the bracket and urging the lever in one direction, a motor device having a driven element operatively connected to the lever, and means for energizing the motor device to produce step by step movement of the socket.

5. The combination of a headlamp housing having a reflector therein, a lamp soclret pivoted in the reflector, a lamp in the socket, a support pivotally secured to the reflector on an axis alined with the axis of pivotal movement of the socket, means carried by the support and oper atively connected to the socket ior reflecting step by step pivotal movement of the socket, and means connecting the housing and the pivoted support for adjusting the position of the last=- named means and the socket.

6. The combination of a headlamp housing I having a reflector therein, a lamp soclret pivoted in the reflector, a larnp in the socket, a support pivotaliy secured to the reflector on an axis alined with the axis of pivotal movement of the socket, a shaft on the support, an eccentric on the shaft engaging the socket to tilt the same, a ratchet wheel secured to the eccentric, a lever mounted on the shaft having a pawl in engagement with the ratchet wheel, a torsion spring on the shaft engaging the bracket and urging the lever in one direction, means on the bracket 0peratively connected to the lever and adapted to produce step by step movement thereof to correspondingly adjust the socket, and means connecting the housing and the pivoted support for adjusting the position of the last-named means and the socket. v

7. In the combination as defined in claim 6, said last-named means comprising a rod pivoted to the support and. having threadedengagement with the housing, and a spring yieidingly urging the support away from the rod. 

